Tenants Rights and Landlord Responsibilities

If you are renting your home then as a tenant you have several rights and responsibilities that you should be aware of. Your landlord will also have certain responsibilities that they need to fulfill.

Tenants have the right to privacy, which means your landlord will have to give you at least 24 hours notice before they can enter your property. If no notice is given you will have the right to refuse them entry. There are many other things a landlord must also not do, such as; lock you out of your property, interfere with your utility supplies and any of your possessions, remove windows or doors, refuse your friends and family access to the property or use any kind of threatening behaviour against you.

According to the law your landlord must make sure that the property is in a decent liveable condition. Landlords are responsible for maintaining that the basic structure of the property is safe, that any sanitary fittings such as sinks and toilets are in good working order, the hot water and heating system systems work and are safe, and that any damage caused by repair jobs are fixed. If your landlord's repairs are not up to standard, you will have the right to take matters to court to seek proper repairs. Landlords should provide you with a gas safety certificate at the start of your tenancy that will confirm that the gas appliances in your property are safe. Landlords should obtain a new safety certificate every year. They must also carry out safety checks on any electrical equipment in the property.

As a tenant you have the right to have your deposit returned to you at the end of the contract, minus any costs for repairs that have been made during your tenancy. If your tenancy was an assured shorthold tenancy agreement then your landlord would need to put your deposit in a government approved deposit protection scheme.

If you are having difficulties with your landlord it may be possible to get help and advice from your local housing officer. Housing officers can assist you when your landlord seriously neglects any of their responsibilities. This would include if you are being harassed or illegally evicted from your property. Eviction law is a very serious subject and if your landlord does not follow the correct procedures, you will have the right take legal action against them. The housing officer will able to help you if your landlord fails to supply you with rent books or refuses to give you information about fees and insurance for long term tenants. They will also be able to assist you if the utilities get cut off and you are living with an elderly person or a child.

It is important to be fully aware of your rights as a tenant and ensure that you are treated fairly and correctly by your landlord.

I am a legal writer covering advice on topics of law including tenant law, for further text and similar works visit tenants rights and landlord responsibilities or contact a solicitor today.

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